idosubaru

In a clean room with all the time and tools in the world - clean all the bolt and hole threads. Chase the threads with a tap. Then properly lubricate the bolts. And you might find no creaking. In practice, it's not unusual to have some creaking, some good lubrication is the best antidote to limit it. Technically that noise is friction which is probably slightly decreasing the clamping force transferred to the head. But I highly doubt it matters unless it's badly hacked.

Also, Fel Pro, by nature of being a many-manufacturer supplier, they're going to lean towards more "one-size-fits-all" solutions since they supply parts for most vehicles ever produced. That doesn't lend itself to making precise recommendations on a specific year/engine. And - they can't control what users will, or won't do with "resused" bolts. The implication of reusing bolts is the bolts and holes are properly cleaned. Plenty of aftermarket guys are gonna just gasket slap it without cleaning the bolts at all, and if Fel pro can convince some of it's buyers to replace the bolts they may be better off in the long run than trying to assume or cover warranties for the used car lots that gasket slap with dirty bolt threads. So I don't necessarily fault Fel Pro or even say they're wrong - they may have reasons for doing so.

Subaru says reuse them. So reuse is the correct answer here unless there's compelling evidence otherwise - which there isn't. They're basing this off of way more applications specific data and experts than Fel Pro has. Fel-Pro says not to reuse them - but they're a supplier making their bread and butter off of parts and wanting their "kits" to seem "competitive" by also including head bolts. They have a much higher marketing and financial incentive than subaru. Subaru's recommendation wins by a 1,000 miles because there's no compelling reason otherwise. Oddly I've seen a few Fel Pro bolt users have quick repeat failures, so I wont' use their bolts and would recommend replacing yours simply so you're not using an inferior quality bolt. Pure speculation on my part but it's unlikely Fel pro has the same, or higher, foundry, machining, finishing, hardening standards as Subaru. But that's pure speculation, i could be wrong. Honestly, it may not be the bolt. It's probably hack jobs who think since they're buying a good gasket and new bolts they don't need to clean the holes or surface well because they're going above and beyond. I've heard people talk like this before and exude over confidence in their parts selection when their other choices probably need more attention. It very well may be the over confidence leading to lack of focus on what matters, like cleaning the holes, good torque wrench, and cleaning the heads properly...than the actual bolt. But still I have no reason to use aftermarket bolts and never will.

Engine in, timing components all Subaru - that significantly reduces the list I made. Don't know, never installed an aftermarket pump and probably wouldn't. I'd install a used Subaru oil pump before I did that. They don't really fail if the engine isn't detonated and sending shards into the pump. I just wouldn't want the 7mm pumps. For $5, 1 bolt, and 20 years old, I wouldn't skip the cam seals while it's staring at me and already removed from the engine. But they don't leak often nor typically catastrophically so it's not a huge over sight to leave it.

That would be an input shaft bearing right? Some of those trans bearings can be $100 or more each bearing so price it out. People have replaced trans bearings. I think Gloyale (he has a new user name Fer....shoot I forget), but he has a good trans disassembly thread from years ago. I've pulled the entire engine/trans bolted together out of the engine bay. It's tight on H6 with automatics just make sure you got enough ceiling room, but I've done it multiple times. Makes it much easier, no need to separate in the car and you're already used to the engine pull now. In case you're dreading dropping the thing underneath.

Subaru headgaskets, resurface heads, clean head bolts and holes, lube threads. Cam seals, reseal the oil pump, or replace with 10mm oil pump if that engine got the dinky 7mm variety which I think was used on some early 2000's ish +/- engines, Subaru went musical chairs after the 90's so i'm unsure which models have the 7mm. You can read the numbers on the rotor to tell you. Valve cover gaskets are easy but also easy to replace if you just want to wait them out or inspect how brittle/soft they are. If the 10k timing components aren't Subaru I'd replace them with Subaru. If AT - check or replace the AT lines behind the drivers side head. It's always the ends that are hard, brittle, showing fatigue, so I've even just clipped 3/4" off and reused the lines before if the rest is supple and there's enough slack. If you're pulling the engine then I'd ask if it's MT and about the clutch and rear main, though they very rarely leak. Pull the knock sensor and check for signs of cracking or rust compromising the metal ring to rubber interface area. They give a check engine light/code and can't strand you so no need to replace but it's an easy chance to check for cracking under the base with the head off and only one bolt. 12mm.

Those aren't codes painting a clear picture of a fault. Those are system wide, communications, and CANBUS faults. Is your alternator and battery charging and holding charge properly? Is the harmonic balancer (crank pulley) failing? If it separates from the rubber ring it'll reduce belt speed, reduce alternator output, and cause codes due to insufficient power supply. You'd have to look up the flow chart for diagnosing. Ideally you clear them all and see which one comes back although I assume it'll be equally confusing. I'd be interested to see what the flow chart daignosis from Subaru looks like for the U1223 and B0223 codes that are "current" and "no-receive data". The others may be phantom, derivative codes from whatever is causing that communications issue.

Very kind of it to do it right as you're backing out of the garage! Good luck digging in. If you drop the trans the engine is going to want to tilt forward into your radiator once the trans is off and engine is free to rotate forward. Protect your radiator (some 2x lumber) and have some way to lift and angle the engine when you go to reinstall - the engine needs lifted about an inch, just a small amount no need to remove any engine parts, and angled front up/rear down to accept the install of the trans. It can be a total pain to do this way - more time under the car, dirt falling in your eyes, poor lighting, and more wrestling. Every tool you forget is a shuffle, shimmy, crawl, head bang on the door sill to go get it and the bolt or tool you need is invisible besides being 3inches above your head or under your left knee. But....it also can go really fast if you're eager and energetic because there's so little to remove - just unbolt it, the shifter, and driveshaft, and out it comes.

That got it only two swings, so I have this joint and spare axle, giving multiple options once I get a ride to the car. First blow on outer joint rim, second blow onto inner cage/race and couldn't believe it popped right off. Some threads mention doing this to replace the outer boot without removing the axle - but I don't see how it wouldn't just yank the axle and stub right out of the trans or hurt an MT doing that. Thanks guys, appreciate it.

I used some of the words you guys used to get some better search results on USMB, just putting these here for later reference:

surprising that works. I could try that with one that still has the inner joint for more weight If I have a good corner to use.

Is it obvious which is which? What do i look for? All of mine are prob 95-05 axles and a couple XT6 I did the BFH years ago but they were rear axles. Thanks

I need to remove the outer cv joint off a front axle. It doesn’t ever need to be reinstalled on an axle shaft again I did this years ago but recall it being brutal bashing them off. I’m fine doing that again but is there a trick? xt6 with EJ axles has a bad axle and I limped it to a gas station. I want to get a ride there, remove the bad axle and install this outer cv cup, without an axle shaft, into the hub just to hold the bearings together. then I can lock the diff and drive home in 3 wheel drive I did not capitalize all the letters in the title but it’s showing that way? Weird.

I’d love to be able to diagnose like that. Drool. I’m working on another Subaru tomorrow if I think about it I’ll peak at my 14 Forester parts car

Wow that’s awesome. Thanks for posting that. That’s interesting to see their diagnostic depth and some notes on verifying communication with Subaru higher ups. Very cool. Sorry of course this is not at all awesome or cool for you. The “symptoms changed when wiggled” nearly guarantees a very short area of wire or connector damage. That’s how I used to diagnose wiring problems on old Gen 1980s Subarus. I’ve found engine wiring harness/connector failures that way in those. wiggle the wires until the engine runs differently, or it alternates from starts/doesn’t start, and you found the short. But those have all been 25+ year old old Gen with green corrosion inside the wire insulation and much lower grade connectors than modern Subarus. Every time it’s been a harness plug issue or the wiring within 2-3” of the harness. Yours being newer won’t have those issues but still wouldn’t surprise me if it’s close to a connector or that firewall pass through. It won’t be at a random spot mid-loom.

I’m sure you did this but consider asking them how well equipped they are at diagnosing potential wiring issues the dealership wasn’t keen on identifying. A lot of mechanics and shops aren’t into chasing wiring gremlins and will guess or simply won’t do it. One hurdle is I’m not sure the issue is confirmed ? You’re not positive it’s the harness are you? The FSM spells out each step and should be readily found for free online. I might have one I can send a link to I’m pretty sure this job is easy once the dash is removed as it exposes everything under/behind it

Highly unlikely coolant. It would have had issues shortly afterwards, not delayed. Also the connections are fluid resistant, they are very well sealed and not prone to taking on fluids. I've never seen modern connectors get wet and have issues. Submerged or directly in line with a profuse leak and older connectors without any seals i've seen issues, fuses blown, melting things - but not just a one time dousing of modern subaru connectors. Given their proclivity to jump to conclusions and limited diagnosis, their suggestions have to be taken lightly. There's no knowing if this is just a one wire problem or 20. So maybe you could still get lucky to get this thing to an independent shop and find it's not as dark and unfixable as they seem to suggest. I'd ask them to video/photograph what they find with the wiring.

Top shelf OEM nothing but the best?!

Sounds like guessing and warranty avoidant. Prob best served somewhere else. Very strange and they won’t let you see your own car?. I’ve seen numerous damaged wires and if there’s significant symptoms there’s melted plastic connectors. Brown plastic. The wire sheathing burned off, or very hard and brittle from heat exposure. Blown fuses. I’ve even seen melted fuses. Don’t want to over state it and I can’t see the install/custom wiring nor am I that good at electrical systems, but stereo wiring causing damage in the engine but no stereo wiring damage and the stereo still working seems like a stretch.

Do you believe their assessment? The stereo currently works right? Is it wired directly to the alt or have a large amp/capacitor? The stereo harness is quite a bit distant and removed from the engine harness, that doesnt make sense. It cant damage the far away engine wiring without damaging the wiring at the stereo. It’s not like the stereo wiring is better than the engine wiring. I’m surprised they could say that with a straight face or without more explanation. Can you get it to an independent shop?. They’ll install a lower cost used harness and probably charge less labor. Probably lower cost in the long run

I’d clear the codes, pull the ABS fuse and then read the codes and post them all here. Theres a chance you may have separate issues. I don’t see the ECU running the engine perfectly fine but causing the ABS to go haywire that seems very unlikely post us some check engine and any other system codes If you try programming the ECU let us know how it goes I’ve got an Autel scanner that does all the SRS, VDC ABS, etc, but don’t know if it has that functionality Use Subaru headgaskets too on that other engine.

engine (or trans) has to come out. Otherwise it’s easy. You generally do a complete clutch job while you’re in there unless you love pulling engines multiple times.

Vibration under load, accelerant or uphill, is almost always the inner CV axle joints or the front diff. Since they’re almost touching it can be hard to distinguish the two. with the lift my guess is the axles. I have an SJR 2” lift and aftermarket axles can’t handle it. Bang bang bang rear view mirror shaking

Yeah just pull the ABS fuse - it'll drive just like a vehicle without ABS and the brakes will work perfectly fine. Then you can move on to other issues until you figure out a repair option. I'm not sure about reprogramming the ECU - I wasn't aware there were scanners that could do that, but I haven't tried. The local dealer charges $100 to program and I think you need all your key FOB's on hand to do it all at the same time. Unless maybe they can do ECU and FOB's separate, but I'd have them all on hand just in case. They charge the same amount no matter how many keys you have so it's a good time to add a spare since the programming of it would be free. Are you sure the ECU is bad? They do fail but that's kind of new for ECU failure. Are you sure the front diff/trans is bad on it? Sorry that's rough. I'm not a huge fan of the 05-09 era - the struts are weak, the power steering pumps fail all the time and aren't easily rebuilt/replaced/aftermarket suck, wheel bearings worse, swaps and other work harder due to the canbus and immobilizer issues, all downgrades from prior generations. And headgaskets. Ther're not really that bad if you replace the headgaskets, and the struts/power steering aren't going to strand you, the automatic transmissions are the 4EAT and very stout, capable of a lot of miles. Headgaskets - use Subaru gaskets, resurface the heads, clean the bolts and holes, and torque properly and they shouldn't fail again for 100,000 miles. Aftermarket gaskets often fail within the first year.

Just pull the ABS fuse for now so the car is usable without battery dying and obsessive noise/brake activity. Pop the hood and open the main fuse/relay box by the strut tower. Fuse slot 1 there. Or fuse slot 33 in the cabin fuse panel down by your left knee. On mid-90's Subaru's they had a common issue where the ABS relay would fail and cause the exact same issue - ABS activating nonstop even when the car was off. Just replace the relay. Not sure if you have one or where it's located. Could also be a the controller. I'd bet it's not mice but maybe, I have seen rodent damage. Sounds like the same thing could be happening here. On those units the relay was actually attached the ABS unit you have pictured.